The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-08-26

TO SEA-" paul GRAFTON" ETC.
aCcpwigated, 1886, By D. Lothrep d Co., aad
Published By Special A'raaoenentl
CHAPTER v.-CoSrINuEp.
s'For this and all other mercies the
Lord make us truly grateful" said
Captain Flagg, reverently. as he took
off his oil-skin hat, in which it was
popularity believed he slept while
voyaging over the main.
This was his invariable form Of
Thanksgiving, as soon as Bixport wharf
was sighted, and with its utterance
Captain Flagg dove into the cabin,
there to throw aside. with his seafaring
attire, the .weighty responsibilities of
the voyage.
Ten minutes later, rs the Mary J.
eneared the wharf, where half of the
residents Of Bixport seemed to have
assembled, Captain Flagg reappeared
gon deck in his go-ashore suit, consist
ing of a tall hat. crumpled suit of
navy-blue, and low-quartered shoes
highly polished. In a commanding
voice the Captain gave the necessary
orders for bringing the schooner along
side the wharf. Down came the dingy
sails, and a half-dozen pairs of hands
were extended to catch the lines
thrown from the deck. Enthusiastic
were the greetings extended to the
ships company, for the quiet of the
little inland village had never been
disturbed by the locomotives scream
or the sound of steamers paddles,
and the arrival of the only sailing
packet between BiXport and Boston
was an event of considerable impor-
lance. There were on board at least
three large boxes of dry good. a ease of
millinery, a hogshead of molasses, and
other groceries in proportion, for Mr..
Jones, the store-keeper; Mr.. Allen, the
minister, had package of books:
'Zias Mason, new harness, and
Deacon Whitney, moving -machinc-
the first of its kind ever seen in Bixport.
Among those assembled on the
wharf, Tad noticed a boy about his own
age, dressed in well-wOrn suit of
tweed. He had curly hair, a pair of
very laughing blue eyes, turn-up
nose and freckled face. Most promi-
nent in voice and action was this youth,
who, upon catching sight of Eph, per-
formed shuttle suggestive of delight,
and in very audible voice called out:
Hooray-three cheers for Ephraim Small,
First mate second mate, crew and air"
"That's my cousin-Joe Whitney,"
laughed Polly, as Master Joe proceed
ed in vigorous pantomime to express
unbounded joy at seeing Polly, who
waved her hand in recognition.
CHAPTER VI
Joe was the first to spring on board;
and it was evident that Joe Whitney
was youth of considerable vivacity,
to say the least. He slapped Captain
flagg Familiarity on the shoulder, sa-
1uted the grinning George Washington !
in a most hilarious manner, and. rush.
ing frantically aft. seized upon Bounce
with a shout of jubilation.
Il say, Polly" he exclaimed, "what |
a jolly little dog-only you orter have
him muzzled-he looks savage"'
There's some boys 1 know that |
wouldn't he worse if they were muz-
zled," gravely observed Captain Flagg
-rescuing Bounce from the hands of |
his nephew, who was preparing to
stand the small dog on his hind legs
though he tempered the severity of this /
hint by a slight internal chuckle, and .
wink of intense meaning.
No! is that so, Uncle Jeth?" re-
turned Joe, regarding Tad with look
of seeming apprehension. He don't
seem like one of that kind" added the
youthful speaker, with affected inno-
,cence, as Captain Flagg turned away
to hide smile.
''Oh, Joe Whitney, you're just as
bad as ever" Polly exclaimed, despair
ingly; and then, remembering that the
polite usages of society called for a
formal introduction, she added:
Joe, this is Tad Thorne-I hope
you'll be ever SO good friends"
'.How are you, Tad?" said Joe, with
"a shy twinkle in his eve.
"How are you Joe?" awkwardly re-
turned Tad, who didn't very well know
what else to say, and, on the whole,
rather fancying the easy. off-hand man.
ner of Polly's cousin. But, then. every
body liked Joe, as general thing
even those Bixport people who insisted
that if he sCds Deacon Whitney's son,
he was the worst boy in the place.
Yet Joe's badness was nothing so
very bad, after all. He was only one
of those restless. fun-loving boys, who
are never so well content as when they
are in mischief; and neither the pro-
testations of his mother, nor the occa-
sional thrashings administered by the
good deacon, had any thing more than
a merely temporary effect.
Ibid you come from Boston?" asked
Joe, as Tad, with home-sick feeling
under his jacket, watched Polly and her
father getting ready to leave the vessel.
for, of course, he expected to have to
stay on board until some different ar
rangement was made for him.
mo, from Philadelphia" returned
Tad, and Joe began to regard him with {
4 sort of respect; for Philadelphia, in
the eyes of Bixport people. was one of
the most wonderful cities in the whole I
world.
Come on, Tad; we're all ready"
called Polly, and can assure You that